Cactus Recipes

The Nopal cactus, also known as “prickly pear,” is an edible cactus plant native to the mountains of Mexico. It has been used since ancient times as both a food and as a medicine for its health benefits.

This vegetable-type edible cactus is popular in Mexico and other Central American countries, parts of Europe, the Middle East, India, North Africa and Australia.

The prickly pear plant has two different edible sections: the pad of the cactus (nopal), which can be treated like a vegetable and the pear (tuna), which can be treated like a fruit.

The nopal cactus grows wild throughout the American southwest down to South America and up to Canada.

With a soft but crunchy texture that also becomes a bit sticky (not unlike okra) when cooked, the nopal cactus tastes similar to a slightly tart green bean, asparagus, or green pepper.

Studies have shown that the pectin contained in the nopal cactus lowers levels of “Bad” cholesterol while leaving “Good” cholesterol levels unchanged.

Other study found that the fibrous pectin in the nopal cactus may lower diabetics need for insulin. Both fruits and pads of the nopal cactus are rich in slowly absorbedsoluble fibers that help keep blood sugar stable.

Fiber means Control. This means that you will have less cravings and feel fuller since Nopal is extremely high in fiber. Nopal also has a high vegetable protein that lessens cellulites and water retention in your body.

From the article:

At UC Davis in the Sacramento area, there is a nopales growing program focused on the health benefits of prickly pear. Basically, prickly pear cactus is said to reduce inflammation. And UC Davis is growing and studying what's in this cactus, also known as nopales.

Gourmet Mexican food is popular in Sacramento including the nutritional health benefits of nopal cactus (prickly pear--edible cactus) usually called nopales, and available at most Latino-style groceries and produce stores in Sacramento. There's also nopales extracts for health benefits, such as nopalea.

This cactus is definitely worth eating, according to the site. The pads are "cladodes" or "nopales" when they're whole, and "nopalitos" when they're diced. They taste something like green beans.

Recipes and entertaining and informative tips on preparation can be found in Joyce L. Tate's Cactus Cookbook, available from the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. Recipes range from appetizers, soups, and salads through entrees, vegetable dishes, and breads to desserts, beverages, and candies.

It's not only from Mexico. Prickly pear grows also in Australia, Africa, and around the Mediterranean. The plant is used for food and medicine. What's eaten for health benefits is the pad or stems called nopales or nopalitos.

Nopales, also known as cactus juice or prickly pears, is of the species Opuntia ficus-indica. It is a popular vegetable in Mexican dishes due to its low calories and succulent, green leaves.

Health Benefit 1: Anti- inflammation

The ability of Nopales to fight inflammation in the muscles, arteries, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system is a well known fact. It has also been shown to lower pain in people with urethra and bladder, bladder infections as well as gallstones.

Health Benefit 2: Boost Immune System

The photochemical in Nopales are useful in making the immune system stronger.

Health Benefit 3: Anti-oxidant Properties

Nopales are rich in antioxidants known as betalins.

Health Benefit 4: Fights Cholesterol

The high amounts of soluble fiber in Nopales have been found through research to combat high levels of cholesterol.

Health Benefit 5: Combats Diabetes

Nopales are particularly useful to people suffering from non-insulin diabetes. It has been found to lower and balance blood pressure.

Cactus juice, also known as nopales, nopalitos or prickly pear juice, is a popular beverage in Mexico, South America, India, the Middle East and parts of Europe. This beverage has recently caught on in popularity in the United States.

The fleshy oval leaves of the cactus plant have a sticky liquid that is similar to asparagus, green beans or green peppers. The nectar of this plant is composed of water, sugar and minerals.

The Nutritional Value of Cactus Juice

Cactus juice provides you with beta-carotene, vitamin B, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium and numerous other minerals and vitamins. Additionally, this fruit is rich in amino acids, specifically taurine. Taurine has antioxidants and flavonoids, both of which are beneficial to the body.

Health Benefits of Cactus Juice

Cactus juice has shown to help to prevent inflammation in the muscles, arteries, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular region.

Cactus juice has a laxative effect and has shown to effectively treat constipation. In addition to easing constipation, cactus juice can reduce inflammation in the urethra and bladder.

Cactus juice is a good source of photochemicals, which can help strengthen the body's immune system.

Additionally, the nopal cactus has high levels of betalins, which are antioxidants.

The American Heart Association has conducted research examining the benefits of cactus juice in reducing cholesterol levels.

Cactus juice has shown to be an effective remedy for non-insulin diabetes. Research shows that cactus juice can help decrease and stabilize blood glucose and insulin levels

Enjoy 1 to 2 tbsp of cactus juice up to three times a day to benefit from the numerous benefits provided by this fruit.

Nutritional Value of Nopales

The wealth of health benefits that come from nopales are mainly attributable to its nutrition and vitamin content, which includes riboflavin, vitamin B6, copper, iron, fiber, vitamin-A, C, K, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. It is also an important source of certain organic compounds like phytochemicals and certain polysaccharides that also contribute to the health boosting power of nopales.

Health Benefits of Nopales

Digestion: Nopales are forms of cacti, so they are very fibrous and contain a great deal of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is essential in the digestive process, because it adds bulk to bowel movements that make them easier to pass through the smooth muscles of the digestive tract.

Weight Loss: There are a number of components within nopales which can aid in weight loss. First, fiber can make the body feel full and inhibit the release of ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone, so overeating is reduced. Secondly, this plant is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, but it is packed with metabolic potential, so the body works at a higher level without gaining weight.

Cancer Prevention: The variety of phytochemicals, flavonoid compounds, vitamin-C, and other antioxidants found in nopales make it extremely beneficial for the entire immune system, particularly when it comes to various cancers.

Metabolic Activity: One of the most important aspects of nopales in terms of health is its mineral and vitamin content. Nopales contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin-B6, all of which are vital components of cellular metabolism and normal, regulated enzyme function throughout the body.

Builds Strong Bones: The mineral content of this powerful cactus leaf includes a modest level of calcium, which is an essential part of building strong bones and repairing bones after being damaged.

Improve Sleep: This plant also contains magnesium,which is a useful mineral for inducing feelings of sleep for people suffering from insomnia, chronic anxiety or restlessness. It induces the release of serotonin in the body, which results in increased melatonin levels.

Inflammation: The juice that is taken out of the pickle pear leaves of nopales has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on a variety of body parts, including those symptoms associated with arthritis, injury, joint pain, and muscle strain.

Skin Health: The phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics of nopales make them a good defensive mechanism against premature aging symptoms, like wrinkles and age spots.

Diabetes: The extracts from the leaves of prickly pear cactus can be powerful regulators of glucose levels within the body. For patients with type 2 diabetes, it can cause a reduced spike in glucose levels following eating, which makes the management of diabetes easier.

Prickly Pear Cactus as a Superfood

People who practice a healthy, natural lifestyle often promote prickly pear cactus as a superfood. They cite the antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties of the plant. In Mexican folk medicine, the cactus pulp and juice are used to treat skin wounds, stomach swelling, digestive problems and urinary tract infections.

Medical Research and Scientific Studies

According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, preliminary studies indicate that prickly pear extract may decrease blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The fiber and pectin found within the cactus appears to lower blood sugar by decreasing sugar absorption in the stomach and intestines. The plant extract improves insulin sensitivity, and it also protects the liver from oxidation.

The Nutritional Value of Prickly Pear Cactus

While doctors of traditional medicine hesitate to call prickly pear cactus a superfood, they believe that it can supplement a healthy diet. The high-fiber cactus is rich in antioxidants and carotenoids. Practically the entire plant is edible and nutritious, from the flowers and fruits to the stems and leaves.

"The International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition" reports that prickly pear cactus is a good source of several important minerals. Calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus are among them. The prickly pear seed contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid with numerous health benefits.Read more about Prickly Pear Cactus as a Superfood

Prickly Pear Syrup

This is a pretty standard syrup recipe, but using the brilliant magenta fruits of the prickly pear cactus as the fruit. Commercial versions of this syrup are used for fancy margaritas or are poured over pancakes; two excellent ideas.

I strongly advise you to buy citric acid for this recipe. You can often find it in the canning aisle of the supermarket under names like “Fruit Fresh” and the like. You can also buy it at homebrew supply stores. Most prickly pears lack any sort of acid tang and need something to keep them from being insipid. Lemons work fine, but I want base ingredients like a syrup to be pure in flavor.

This recipe is a guide: Prickly pears come in all sizes and sweetness levels, so use your taste buds and common sense. My pears were small, mostly about the size of limes. And they were sweet, but not overly so.

Prickly pear cactus, a member of the genus Opuntia, also known as nopal cactus, grows in warm, arid parts of the world. It produces leaves -- actually flattened stems known as pads -- between four to 16 inches long. Prickly pear offers a variety of practical benefits. For example, the sap from the pads repels mosquitoes and is a remedy for minor cuts and burns, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension. Cactus leaf also offers certain nutritional and other health benefits, including:

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity

Including cactus leaf in your diet may boost your antioxidant levels, according to a study published in the January 2006 "Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology." Researchers found that prickly pear cactus demonstrated strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Cancer Prevention

Prickly pear cactus leaf offers potential anticancer benefits, according to a tissue-culture study published in the February 2013 issue of the journal "Food and Function." Antioxidants and other active components of prickly pear induced early cell death in human breast and colon cancer cells, with a more pronounced effect occurring in colon cancer cells. Prickly pear also showed robust anti-inflammatory activity that might prevent cell damage and contribute to its anticancer benefits.

Blood Sugar Control

Cactus leaf combined with exercise improved insulin sensitivity -- the appropriate response of cells to insulin -- in an animal study published in the March 2013 "International Journal of Molecular Science." Results showed that a group that ate diets supplemented with 5 percent prickly pear cactus by weight and participated in a swimming program had significantly lower blood sugar and fasting insulin levels compared to a group that ate a high-fat diet and did not exercise. Prickly pear also activated a gene that increases metabolic activity and fat burning.

Dietary Uses

To prepare fresh cactus leaf, scrape the spines off and peel back the skin to reveal the fleshy meat. Add fresh prickly pear cactus leaf, which has a flavor similar to that of green beans, to vegetable and fruit salads, soups or omelettes. You can also boil or fry cactus leaf.See More....